It Takes Two To Tango (March 1998)

The setup was that Natalya needed to recognize and then seduce a prominent businessman who would be coming to the hotel. The Four Seasons was a five star hotel and she had been given a photo of the businessman. She needed to be seen with him in some kind of compromising position. James would take the photo of them.

From the Hydra plant in the cafeteria, James had been tipped off about the disappearance of their agent. He was advised to be cautious and not to trust Natalya or Tatiana. James was always cautious though and for this op he dressed in expensive black jeans, an expensive long-sleeved shirt of gold and black and a thick, black, designer leather jacket. He wore Cartier sunglasses and a thick, gold chain around his neck. He was armed as well with a combat knife and a sidearm with extra magazines.

In the car over, it was just a regular limo and Natalya was dressed like a pop star might be. He would pose as her manager and bodyguard. They sat side by side in the limo and he reached and took her hand into his like she had in the elevator. He caressed her knuckles softly.

“I want to be free Natalya. I want us both to be,” James said. His long hair was free off his shoulders and he had a decent 5 o-clock shadow going. He wanted to tell her what his superiors wanted him to do. But his conditioning wouldn’t allow it.

“I want to tell you...something...but...but I can’t,” he said. “Every time that I try its like my brain and my mouth can't form the words. Hydra has control over me Natalya. And I can’t break it,” he said honestly. “But...the SSB does not control you. I could snap our drivers neck,” he began but couldn’t even finish saying the part where she could get away. That would mean he couldn’t finish his mission to take her so he couldn’t say it. He leaned down lazily in the seat feeling defeated and leaned up against her arm.

Natalya was dressed to show off her body. She was wearing a designer label dress that was very short and showed off her long, lean legs. The dress was body hugging as well, accentuating her curves. Her hair was left down and she wore a lightly scented perfume and high heels. Natalya hadn't spoken to James since they got into the car. She just looked out the window. She felt him take her hand and though she didn't pull her hand away, she didn't look at him either. However, she did listen to him.

After he finished speaking she remained quiet for a long while before breaking the silence that had settled between them. "Were you sent by Hydra to seduce me and lure me over to them?" Her voice had a hard edge to it. She was clearly upset and angry.

James didn’t answer for what felt like minutes but it was only a few seconds. “I don’t know, I don’t think so initially” he began and once more his throat clenched up and cut off his voice. “It’s wrong what they’ve done to us...If I was free...I’d cut off all their fucking heads!” he said softly. He was so tired of being a pawn. Of being forced to hurt and kill and murder. “Nothing that happens will be because I want it to,” he finally said. “I do just want us to be together Natalya,” he found he was able to say. “I just don’t think it’s possible...not in the way I want,” he added and he was thankful he could say that as well.

Natalya felt her anger towards James slowly dissipate, but she felt her anger towards Tatiana, the SSB, and Hydra increase. James was right. What they were doing to them was wrong. She wished they could somehow break free and just run away together.

She was quiet a moment and she tightened her grip on his hand. “Tatiana knows that you are trying to poach me. She wants to do the same to you. I’m supposed to lure you and then stun you so they can take you and then reprogram you.”

Natalya had never betrayed Tatiana before. But she had today.

“Oh, I wish you hadn’t told me that,” James said as he sat up. Natalya only had a moment to get her hand up before James let go of her hand and tried to elbow her in the face. But even as she blocked his elbow he extended it again and the second time he did connect with the side of her head. The limo driver’s screen was opaque and he couldn’t hear them fighting with the music going for him. It wasn’t playing in the back.

Natalya head butted him hard and then struck him with the flats of her hands in the temples. He fell back in the seat but his foot came out and he kicked her hard in the stomach before she could retrieve her knife. All she had to do is knick him with it and he would be down. The kick knocked her up against the door and her head hit hard on the door molding. He saw her draw out her knife and he quickly drew out his pistol. Before he could aim it at her though she shifted and kicked his hand. The blow was so strong his fingers went numb. The gun fell to the floor and went off. The bullet went right into the back of the limo driver and exited into the windshield along with a splatter of blood. As the large car began to careen down the road out of control James shifted forward. One hand caught her wrist with the knife, the other went to her neck.

Natalya had to react quickly. Thankfully, James had taught her well and she knew exactly what to do. She didn't think, her body just moved to defend herself and then counter attack. The driver couldn't tell what was going on in the back of the limo due to the fact that there was an opaque window separating the back from the front. They each reached for their weapons and Natalya just barely managed to get out of the way after James dropped his gun to the floor and it discharged. It killed the driver instantly and the limo began to careen down the road. James managed to grab her right wrist that held the knife, and his other hand went to her neck. This left the rest of his body exposed and undefended. As the limo crashed into a set of parked cars, Natalya kneed James hard in the groin. She felt his grip loosen and she pulled away. She grabbed the gun from off the floor and pointed it at him. Her finger was on the trigger, but she hesitated. As she looked at James she realized that she couldn't do it...she couldn't kill him. Her feelings for him ran deep. She dropped the gun at his feet and looked at him.

"Just do it."

James struggles against...what, himself? No, not himself. The compulsion was so strong! How he hated being controlled! As if he had no choice! She was going to shoot him. He honestly didn’t know if that was even a bad thing. Not anymore, but then she dropped the gun. The car began to smoke then part of the engine caught on fire. James had blood on his temple from a cut and more that came out of his nose and the right aide of his mouth. If they stayed in the car they’d both die.

“Just get out,” he said as he laid his head back. There was a lot of smoke that began to billow around the car and the stench of burned rubber filled the air as the front tires caught fire. “Go!” He growled as he lay there on the floor of the backseat.

Suddenly though Natalya was in him. Her mouth sought his and he felt her hands take hold of his face. He had no choice but to kiss her back. But then, this is what drew her in the first place. His passion for her. He pushed her back then kicked her so hard the latch on the door blew open and she flew out and rolled several yards on the pavement. She heard the car shift as if James had moved but there was so much smoke and it burned her eyes so badly she could not see. And then it exploded into a massive fireball that bloomed up into the sky.

Natalya didn't know if James was dead or alive. She had wanted to go look for him, but she had been quickly apprehended by several SSB agents. She fought back her tears as she realized she was never going to see him again...she was never going to feel his touch...or be able to kiss his lips. She wanted to remember him...to hold onto the feeling that thinking about him gave her. However, as she was brought before Tatiana, she knew she was in serious trouble. Tatiana's eyes burned like hell fire. Her nearly perfect weapon was broken. James had nearly ruined her. It would take time, but she would fix her...she would erase all memories of him and beat those weak feelings out of her.

"Take her to the helmet," she commanded. Natalya began to scream in fear and struggle, but Tatiana ignored her cries. As Natalya was dragged from the room, Tatiana added some more milk to her tea and motioned to her assistant. He closed the door, drowning out Natalya's cries.

"We'll see if you ever betray me again."

James’s hair was wet and matted. His hands were tethered to metal frames as his body was. He could barely move and they had placed the bite guard into his mouth. He knew what was coming...pain. They were going to reset him, once again. An imperfect weapon was useless to hydra. Lights and shadows moved above him. People that looked down upon him and prepared him for the procedure. His eyes looked straight ahead, emotionless, dead eyes. And then they flipped the switch and he began to scream...